Combined water-gauge illuminator and protector



Feb. 16 1926.

W, J-. HILL ET AL COMBINED WATER GAUGE ILLUMINATOR AND PROTECTOR Filed March l5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fei. 16 1926. m2733342 W. J. HILL ET AL COMBINED WATER GAUGE ILLUMI NATOR AND PROTECTOR Filed March 13, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 16, i926.

Unie stares PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD J. HILL, SAMUEL J. LUPTON, AND FRANCIS E. COLLINSON, F WINNIEG,

MANTOBA, CANADA, ASSGNORS TO SAID HILL.

` CICIlvfIl'ETD W'ATER-GAUGE ILLUMINATOR AND PROTECTOR.

Application led March 13, 1924. Serial No. 699,129.

` To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VJiLLAnD J. HILL, SAMUEL J. Li'irToN. and FRANCIS E. Coi.- LINsoN, all of the city of lVinnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have jointly `invented certain new and useful improv-en ments in Combined VVatenGange illumina tors and Protectors, ot which the 'following is the specification. Y The invention relates to improvements in combined water gauge illuininators and protecto s and an object of tlie invention is to providea device to be used in connection with the water gauge glass ot a steam boiler and which designed to protect observers from being struck by flying glass iii the event oic the water gauge glass breaking, to permit of the escape ot' water, steam and broken glass through an outlet pipe provided in the event oi: the glass breaking and to effectively illuminate the water gauge glass and without glare so that the height of the water can at all times be clearly seen and through a range of approximately one'- liundred and twenty degrees.

A further object of the invention is to design the device so tliat'it can be readily mounted Vin `place on the boiler or water gauge glass mounting, so that the illuminating lanip is shielded vfrom flying glass in the event ot' the water gauge glass breaking. so that the water gauge glass is enclosed within a casing'having a glass front Orshield. the glasses ot which can be readily removed and such that the protector can be removed 'troni the supporting bracket without having to use tools for the removal of nuts orl other littings and such that. the protector will maizer close iitting joints7 thereby preventing any undue escape ot steam or water in the event of the water Oauge glass breaking.

A Afurther object is to design the device y sov that the lamp casing and the-.protector are integrally "formed and can be so arranged'on the device that the light from the lamp is directed to a mirror or retlector which reflects the light directly onto the water gauge glass7 the lamp being shielded.

lith the above more and other minor objects in view, lthe invention consists essenti` scribed, reference being had to the acconipanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a face view ot the device as it appears oii the boiler head.

A Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed plan view of the device.

'F 3 is a vertical sectional view at 3--3 Figure 2 and looking in the direction ot the applied arrow.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view at l-l .Figure 2 and looking in the direction ot the applied arrow.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view at 5-5 Figure 3.

Fig. a side view of a portion oi the upper part ot the device.

Fig. T is a perspective view ot the bracket and enclosure plate.

In the drawings like characters ot reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Locomotive and other boilers are provided with water gauge glasses which the engi neer can observe to determine the height o'l' the water in the boiler. rThese soii'ictimcs break and it is obviouslyV desirable that the engineer be protected 'lroin flying glass, steam and water and 'further it is desirable that under normal conditions the `engineer should lie enabled to clearly sce the height oit water in the water gauge glass.

The present invention relates to a device which will protect the engineer from being seal-fled should the glass break and which will eliectivelv illuminate the water column, rl'hc structural details of the device are arranged so that they also give very important advantages hereinbe'liore set forth and later explained.

rillie boiler head l carries the custoinarv mountings for the water gauge glass :2 and the mountings and glass are arranged with due respect to the crown sheet El and as required by practice There is an upper and a lower mounting` tor the water gauge glass, both of which are quite similar. The upper mounting coin' prises a valve body 4 which screw threads into the boiler head and is provided with a valve 5 which can be opened and closed by manipulating the valve handle (5. A gauge stem 7 is attached to the valve casing, being held in place by a suitable packing nut 8 and the upper end of the water gauge glass 2 is fastened to the lower end of the ste-ni 7 by a packing nut 9. K y

The lower mounting comprises a valve body 10 which is'sciew threaded into the iead of the boiler and contains a valve 11 provided with a valve handleVv 12 whereby the s'anie can be opened and closed. Ascrew threaded nipple 13 opens to the top side of the valve body and is connected by a packing nut 14 to the lower end of thewater gauge glass. A pipe leads from the under side-vof the valve body 10 and connects with al waste pipe 1G, a suit-ablewaste pipe valve 1.7 being provided yto allow the wastewaters to drain oit' upon such valve being opened.

The above parts arefot ordinary construction and are as now used on locomotives. Theymay vaiy somewhat in` detail in various: types, but. our device can bel used on the various types.

The combined water gauge illuinina'tor and protector which we` provide embodies' what might be termed three main parts, a bracket v18, ay waterv gauge' glass protector 19 and a lamp casing 20, the protector and lamp casingv being integrally formed andv the bracket detachably connected to the latter two parts.

The bracket 18 is provided with suitablev slots 21 and 22 through which studs-23 and 24 pass, the studs fastening the bracketV to the boiler head and the slots permitting ver;- tical adjustment of the bracket to accommodate thewater gauge glass. rlfhe bracket car-1 ries a closure plate-25 having a.- horizontal lower extension26 orminga closure bottom torthe protector, av reflector or mirror 27, a top horizontally disposed' saddle 2S, upper and lower pairs of side notches: 29 and 3() and-vertically disposed pairsot webs 31 and 32 forming guides. The extension 26 is loaned with a central opening 33. lVhen.

the bracket is Jfastened to the boiler, the opening 83' receives the lower packingv nutv 14 and the saddle 28 sits halt around the upper packing nutV 9.

The lanipgcasing; is cylindrical in form and is provided atA the lower end with a drain nipple 34 which communicates with the drain pipe The top end of the lamp casiiigis closed by a plug 36 which carries the customary electric lamp socket 37, the socketbeing litted with an electric lamp 38 and with lead wires 39 and 40 which pass from the plug to a suitable source ot cur-A rent. Asbetore stated the lamp casing is ,integrally formed with the gauge protector' ami-accordingly the one side ot' the lamp casing 'forms a side of the water gauge glass protector.V

'lhe water gauge' Orlass protector which is c. n., C r

substantially 'square in horizontal section and is positioned. angularly of the boiler,

has metallic sides next the boiler, one of which is closed by the plate 25, whilst the sides remote from the boiler are fitted with.

glass plates through which the. water gaugel The front sides ot'l thev protector are-pro-v vided with guides which receive slidably the edges ot' transparent plates 45 and 46 such as Vot plate glass, and these plates are retained in; place by a` vertical. rod 47 tit/ted at the upper end with a linger piece48 and having the lower end screw threading-.into the lower. parte. of theprotector. The latter arrangement issuch; that if one ,hasj unscrewed and withdrawn the rod, the. glass plates-can be-takenout one after the-other asthe edge ofV the one glass overlaps; the edge ol"- the other. l

@ne side` of the 'protector next t-he boiler is provided with upper and lower sets ot catches 49,these being adapted to enter the notches of theiplate 25' and catch the same uponl the protector being pushed downV in respect to the plate 25. pass to the inner side-of the protector when the same isin place.. I

We wish it to be particularly notedV that the bracket is so designed'that the protector sits in an angular position and that the lamp casing is, so to speak, behind the protector.

By s-ucli construction the engineeris' givenan unobstructed view ot' the water gauge' glass through a range ot one hundred and; twenty degrees and the gauge glass is etectively illuminated yinall'posfitions by the reflected light trom-the mirror or retlector.

The construction also provides it'or the removal of the protector and-the lamp casing by virtue ot' theirstructure. le mightv here remarkthat the packing nuts 9 and 14 which are usually hexagonal are made-round for a Tihe webs 31 and 32 lil portion ot their length, so as to lit snugly in place within the opening 33 and between the saddle 28 and the complementary semi-circular upper end of the protector.

A device of this kind can also be mounted on the water column of a locomotive boiler instead ot on the boiler head and in such a case the arrangement would be such that the device would take the same angular position in respect to the boiler so that the engineer would have 'full vision through a range of one hundred and twenty degrees in the manner hereinbet'ore explained.

life have not considered it necessary to show the device applied on the water gauge column as such latter is Well known and anyone familiar with the article could easily effect the mounting ot the device on the water gauge column.

lilhat we claim as our invention is:

l. The combination with a water gauge glass, of a combined water gauge illuminator and protector comprising a permanently mounted bracket and an integrally formed lamp containing1 casing and water gauge glass protector detachably carried by the bracket. p 2. The combination with a boiler water gauge glass, `of a combined water gauge illuminator and protector comprising a stationary supporting bracket and an integrally formed lamp containing casing and water gaugeglass protector, the casing and protector being demountably carried by the bracket and being angularly positioned in respect to the boiler.

3. The combination with a boiler water gauge glass, of a combined water gauge illuminator and protector comprising a permanently mounted bracket and an integrally formed lamp containing casing and water gauge glass protector demountably carried by the bracket, the protector enclosing the water gauge glass and having transparent sides remote from the boiler and the lamp casing having a discharge pipe leading from the bottom thereof.

4. The combination with a boiler water gauge glass, of a combined water gauge illuminator and protector comprising a perma- -nently mounted supporting bracket, an integrally formed lamp containing casing and water gauge glass protector demountably carried by the bracket and positioned angularly in respect to the boiler and a discharge pipe leading from the bottom of the lamp casing.

5. A combined water gauge illuminator and protector for a boiler comprising a protector enclosing the water gauge glass and positioned angular-ly in respect to the boiler and having the sides thereof remote trom the boiler transparent, a lamp containing casing located at one side of the protector and having a guard interposed between the lamp and the water gauge glass aud a light slot, adischarge pipe leading troin the bottoni of th-e lamp casing and a rcfector mounted within the protector behind the water gauge glass and adapted to reflect the light rays passing through the slot on to the water column within the glass.

6. A conibined water gauge illumnator and protector tor a boiler comprising a protector enclosing the Water gauge glass and supported in an angular position in respect to the boiler and having the sides thereol' remote from the boiler transparent, a lamp containing casing closing one side oli the protector and having top and bottom escape openings therein eonnnunicating with the interior ot the protector and a vertical light slot connecting such openings, a discharge pipe communicating with the bottom ot the lamp casing and a reflector contained within the protector to the rear of the uater gauge glass and adapted to reflect the light rays emanating from the lamp on to the water column in the water gauge glass.

'i'. A combined Water gauge illuminator and protector 'for a boiler comprising a supporting bracket carrying a vertically disposed closure plate having lop and bottom horizontal extensions, the bottom extension being,T provided with an opening receiving the lower mounting otl the water gauge glass, the upper extension being in the form ot a saddle engaging the upper mounting ot the gauge glass and an integrally 'formed lamp containing casing and water gauge glass protector detachably secured to the closure plate. the bottom ot the protector being closed by the bottom extension el the closure plate and the top o't the protector cooperating with the saddle like extension ot the plate to close the top ot the protector and surround the upper water gauge glass mounting.

S. A conibined water gauge illuminator and protector tor a boiler cmuprising a suplporting bracket carri/ilu;l a vertically disposed closure plate haring top and bottom horizontal extensions., the bottom extension being provided with an opening receiving the lower mounting et the gauge glass, the upper extension being in the torni et a saddle engaging the upper n'iountingof the gauge glass and an integrali;r formed lamp containing casing and water gauge glass protector detachably secured to the closure plate, the back o't the protector being closed by the closure plate and the top thereo'tl cooperating with the saddle to close around the top mounting ot the gauge glass.

9. A combined Water gauge illuminator and protector for a boiler. comprising an integrally formed lamp casing and water gauge glass protector. the protector beingl substantially square in horizontal section and having one of the rear sides opening to lla) lill) the lainp casing and provided with a web protecting` the lainp and loriiiing upper and lower steain escape openings and a light slot therebetween, the other of the rear Sides open to permit of the passing of the Water O'aiw'e @lass Within the Jifoteetor, the front b C sides thereof transparent andthe upper and lower ends thereotI provided with semi-Circuler hearings engaging the gauge glass inountings, a discharge pipe leading from the bottoni of the lamp easing, a closure plate on which the protector is detaehahbT mounted, Said closure plate closing the open side of the protector and having` a bottoni horizontal extension through which the lower gauge glass mounting. extends and an upper horizontal saddle like extension cooperating with the top of theproteetor tol enclose thev -ripper gauge glass mounting, a Supporting.bracket permanently attached to the rear of the closure plate and a inirror on the front face o1c the closure plate adapted to reflect the light rays einen atingfthrongh the light slot on to the Water Column Within the gauge glass. y

Signed at lvinnipeg, this 14th day oie Feo riiary, 1924. l i p VILLARD J. HILL. SAMUELVJ. LUPTON. FRANCIS E. CQLLINS'ON. 

